Ford Fiesta
Update Beast from the East can’t stop supermini
WHEN bad weather hits, those in the Auto Express office who have no choice but to drive tend to gravitate towards whatever four-wheel-drive SUVS we have in the car park.
I had no such option during the recent combination of the ‘Beast from the East’ and Storm Emma, with only the trusty Ford Fiesta at my disposal. Leaving our London office to head west just as the snowstorm reached its peak, I expected to struggle to keep going on summer tyres. But the lightweight Ford felt completely stable and inspired confidence as visibility and conditions worsened.
By the time I’d left the M4 and got on to some Berkshire B-roads, the snow and ice had claimed several victims, as many larger and heavier vehicles slid to a gradual halt on even the tiniest incline. But by maintaining momentum and keeping in as high a gear as possible, the Fiesta, with its low kerbweight and small tyre footprint, ploughed on regardless. Over the weekend it was the only car in the family capable of leaving my parents’ street.
More recently, the mint green Ford has been pressed into action for more mundane trips, mostly either going to and from the office or to the airport and back. Even on the dullest journeys the fun handling and willing engine raise a smile, but when you’re not in the mood its strong refinement and comfort excel. Some issues with build quality in the Fiesta’s cabin have become apparent, though.
Our car’s front interior light doesn’t come on when the door is opened, despite being set to do so, while the passenger side carpet has come loose under the dash. But as problems go, these are pretty minor.